Hockey followers will bear in mind it properly: the start of the Purple Mile through the Calgary Flames’ Stanley Cup run in 2004.
That season, the Flames weren’t even presupposed to make the NHL playoffs, however they did, and the crew simply stored on successful.
It was a Cinderella story for the Flames that ignited followers in a manner now we have not seen since.
When the crew knocked the Vancouver Canucks out in Spherical 1, a spontaneous get together erupted within the streets of Calgary. Followers had been so excited to see the underdogs take the win, that they filed out of bars alongside seventeenth Avenue Southwest in celebration.
The ocean of crimson jerseys that may very well be seen on the road is how the Purple Mile obtained its identify. These celebrations continued after subsequent video games and grew to tens of hundreds of individuals because the Flames battled towards Detroit, San Jose, and eventually Tampa Bay, towards whom the Flames misplaced in Recreation 7 of the Stanley Cup Remaining.
The Purple Mile is a kind of “the place had been you when” moments. If you happen to had been in Calgary throughout that cup run, you bear in mind precisely the place you had been and what you had been doing.
Melrose Cafe and bar, which is now not on seventeenth Avenue Southwest, was thought of the “Coronary heart of the Purple Mile” in 2004. Proprietor Wayne Leong recalled that the vitality was electrical.
“It was natural,” he defined. “No person knew precisely how it could unfold. The vitality was unimaginable.
“We introduced TVs and put them exterior on the patio … on the road, and it simply organically grew one collection after one other. It was so thrilling.”
Shane Bycuik mentioned he solely went to the Purple Mile twice. However he did have Flames season tickets and obtained to go to various the video games on the Saddledome.
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Throughout Recreation 6 of the ultimate spherical towards the Tampa Bay Lightning, he snuck two small bottles of champagne into the sector.
“I used to be able to pop the cork after we did win the Stanley Cup that night time, however sadly, that didn’t occur,” Bycuik mentioned.
He mentioned he has stored them, ready for the Flames to win a Stanley Cup to open them.
“I’m going to crack them after we win the cup finally. Hopefully it’ll be in my lifetime. If not, I’ve two sons that may keep it up that custom.”
Shane Bycuik with the 2 champagne bottles he’s had since 2004, ready for the Calgary Flames to win the Stanley Cup earlier than he opens them.
COURTESY: Shane Bycuik
Followers may also bear in mind a track that turned an unofficial anthem of that 2004 cup run. Set to 50 Cent’s “In Da Membership,” Brendon Sanguinetti wrote “In Da Dome,” with references within the lyrics to Flames stars Miikka Kiprusoff, Jarome Iginla and Martin Gelinas bringing the cup house.
Sanguinetti carried out the track alongside Drew Allum beneath stage names “Don Getti” and “Drew Atlas.”
The 2 carried out on the Purple Mile, on TV, at Olympic Plaza through the get together for the Flames after the season was over. In addition they even carried out on the late Ken King’s home, who was the president of the Calgary Flames on the time.
“He had a giant get together, or a dinner, and he booked us to be the dinner music,” Sanguinetti mentioned.
The fandom from 2004 prolonged all throughout the nation. The CCM manufacturing facility was making tens of hundreds of jerseys a day and transport all of them throughout Canada. Automotive flags stored promoting out the second they obtained in inventory. Even then-prime minister Paul Martin, jumped on the bandwagon, calling the Flames “Canada’s crew.”
The legacy of that ’04 crew lives on. You’ll be able to nonetheless see “Purple Mile” indicators alongside seventeenth Avenue Southwest. Iginla and Kiprusoff’s jerseys now dangle within the rafters on the Saddledome. These jerseys will likely be moved to the Flames’ new enviornment as soon as the ‘Dome comes down.
A photograph taken in March 2024 throughout Miikka Kiprusoff’s jersey retirement night time.
Dallas Flexhaug/International Information
Followers are hoping a brand new enviornment will convey a recent begin and one other cup run to their crew, earlier than one other 20 years is up.
Allum mentioned followers will likely be prepared.
“Nothing has modified by way of Calgary’s ardour for his or her sports activities groups,” he defined. “So, I don’t know when you’ll have as iconic of a second with one track (“In Da Dome”) encapsulating it, however so far as the vitality from everyone within the city: 100 per cent.
“Come on, Flames.”
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